Just a quick update, and I apologize because I know it's been a while. The results of Mom's MRI yesterday came in, and the tumor has shrunk! Isn't that wonderful? Also, there were no new tumors, so maybe this toxic mix of Avastin and Temodar (chemotherapy) is doing good work up there! Thank you, everyone, for your continued prayers. It really does help.
Mom has been sleeping most of the day, though she did get out and about for a little while. The physical therapist at the hospital helped her stand for about 20 minutes with the support of a walker, and she and Daddy took a stroll/roll (he walked, she wheeled) around the hospital corridors. But chemo is well known for sapping your energy and making you feel bad in general, and it's not going easy on Mom. She's getting lots of rest and good nursing care here, though. And the food is better than it was at the rehab hospital. Speaking of which, can anyone recommend a good inpatient rehab facility? We need to find one, stat.
Showing posts with label MRI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MRI. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 23
Thursday, March 22
Pop Quiz results
Mom's long day yesterday ended with two of her granddaughters' hugs and kisses, a cup full of delicious stew, and a piece of yummy cake. We enjoyed watching a nature show on PBS and learning about family habits of a funny bunch of monkeys, and if we hadn't been in this hospital, we probably would have all fallen asleep listening to monkey chatter on TV. But alas, this is a hospital, so a nurse came in to give Mom her medicine, and the PBS peacefulness was disrupted and we exited. Mom and Daddy both slept well.
We're thankful for the healing rest, because the news this morning wasn't great. The MRI results shows the tumor is actually a little larger now than before the last MRI. Sigh. That's not at all what we wanted, but it is what we were warned about. Sometimes the scan taken at the end of radiation shows a scary picture. So we got that.
The plan now is to keep radiation today and tomorrow, Mom's last two days of that. In the last day or two we've been seeing a slight decline in Mom's speech abilities, and she's been a little more confused and forgetful; the right side of her mouth dropped a little yesterday, too. So her oncologist is going to talk with the neurosurgeon and discuss other options now, and he is raising her steroid dosage back to the previous level to help with the again decreased language abilities.
What's interesting, and what the oncologist could not explain, is why Mom is actually 100% better at speech and motor skills now than when the previous scan was taken. The tumor has grown, but so have her abilities. So that's not logical. I suppose brain tumors aren't supposed to be logical, they are mystical, frightful beasts that can sometimes be managed but certainly not controlled.
I'm choosing to believe the unaffected part of Mom's brain is compensating for the beast. It's putting up a good fight, and it's telling her she can grasp an Oreo cookie, and she can clasp her hands together. She can raise her leg, rotate her foot, and she can wiggle her toes. None of those things could she do three weeks ago. Focus on the good news, the progress she has made.
Ending on a good note, Mom really enjoyed two letters from former students this morning. Caroline had received them in her Sunday School, from friends of a friend. I love how that network works. :) Mom was so happy to hear from these girls, how they are doing in school, how their families are, what their college and career plans are, what their spring break plans are. Thanks, girls, for sharing happy thoughts and stories with Mom. She loves you so much!
We're thankful for the healing rest, because the news this morning wasn't great. The MRI results shows the tumor is actually a little larger now than before the last MRI. Sigh. That's not at all what we wanted, but it is what we were warned about. Sometimes the scan taken at the end of radiation shows a scary picture. So we got that.
The plan now is to keep radiation today and tomorrow, Mom's last two days of that. In the last day or two we've been seeing a slight decline in Mom's speech abilities, and she's been a little more confused and forgetful; the right side of her mouth dropped a little yesterday, too. So her oncologist is going to talk with the neurosurgeon and discuss other options now, and he is raising her steroid dosage back to the previous level to help with the again decreased language abilities.
What's interesting, and what the oncologist could not explain, is why Mom is actually 100% better at speech and motor skills now than when the previous scan was taken. The tumor has grown, but so have her abilities. So that's not logical. I suppose brain tumors aren't supposed to be logical, they are mystical, frightful beasts that can sometimes be managed but certainly not controlled.
I'm choosing to believe the unaffected part of Mom's brain is compensating for the beast. It's putting up a good fight, and it's telling her she can grasp an Oreo cookie, and she can clasp her hands together. She can raise her leg, rotate her foot, and she can wiggle her toes. None of those things could she do three weeks ago. Focus on the good news, the progress she has made.
Ending on a good note, Mom really enjoyed two letters from former students this morning. Caroline had received them in her Sunday School, from friends of a friend. I love how that network works. :) Mom was so happy to hear from these girls, how they are doing in school, how their families are, what their college and career plans are, what their spring break plans are. Thanks, girls, for sharing happy thoughts and stories with Mom. She loves you so much!
Wednesday, March 21
Wednesday's pop quiz
We have three radiation therapy treatments left, including today, and Mom's oncologist seems pleased with her progress. He said that we'll continue lowering her IV steroids dosage today and soon move to the pill form. Next week she'll get a break from the Temodar, the chemotherapy pills she's been taking, and later she'll move to a schedule of a higher Temodar dosage "boost" for one week per month.
All of this presumes a good outcome from today's MRI. Since she's nearing the end of radiation, it's time to take a picture of her brain and see how the therapy did at reducing the tumor. We've been looking forward to this week for a while, and now that it's here I'm almost as nervous as the day of Mom's surgery. We're anxiously hoping and praying for a good outcome, so that we feel okay about moving on to rehab.
Keep those prayers coming - we know they're heard!
All of this presumes a good outcome from today's MRI. Since she's nearing the end of radiation, it's time to take a picture of her brain and see how the therapy did at reducing the tumor. We've been looking forward to this week for a while, and now that it's here I'm almost as nervous as the day of Mom's surgery. We're anxiously hoping and praying for a good outcome, so that we feel okay about moving on to rehab.
Keep those prayers coming - we know they're heard!
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